Obituaries

Feb 11, 2022

Ronald Leroy Hirsch Sr., 68, of Coloma passed away on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Ronald was born on Dec. 6, 1953, in Benton Harbor, the son of Fred and Hilda (DeVay) Hirsch, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing are a sister, Karen Hirsch;...

Jan 26, 2022

Bernice was born on Sept. 3, 1928, to Virgil and Mildred (Hiler) Matrau of Bainbridge Township. She was a lifetime area resident and graduated from Watervliet High School. Bernice was the founder and owner of Rudell Real Estate and the president of the Southwestern Michigan Board of Realtors.

Bernice had a love of antiques and was an...

Jan 21, 2022

Richard C. “Dick” Showerman, 84, of Hartford passed away on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.

Dick, as he was known by everyone, was born Jan. 31, 1937, in Howell, Mich. He graduated from Fowlerville High School and Cleary Business College. He worked many years for Monsanto, Sohigro, and Terra.

Richard is survived by his wife, Angela...

Jan 21, 2022

Dale Ronald Long, 87, of Decatur passed away Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland, St. Joseph.

Dale was born Feb. 13, 1934, in Bainbridge Township, to William Sr. and Minnie (Walter) Long, both of whom preceded him in passing.

Dale is survived by his wife, Karol; two sons, Greg A. (Fannie) Long and...

Jan 13, 2022

Bruce Arthur Dowd, 80, of Hartford passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2022, at White Oaks Assisted Living Center of Lawton. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford. Visitation, with the family, will be held from 2-4 p.m., with a service immediately following. A private burial will be held at...

Jan 8, 2022

Icie Mae Richardson, of Paw Paw, was born on Jan. 24, 1937, in Caraway, Ark., to Hurtis “Alvin” and Edith (Ryan) Brewer.

Icie passed away suddenly on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich.., at the age of 84.

Icie considered Hartford her home town living there for 45 years, before...

Jan 5, 2022

Eulene “Sue” Soulard, formerly of Hartford, passed away peacefully at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, on January 5, 2022, following a two-week battle with COVID-19.

Sue was born on Nov. 12, 1953, in Plant City, Fla., to Ozee and Marion Moon: she was the youngest of four children: Owen, Gary, and Mary. She and her...

Jan 4, 2022

Paul Pradon was born on April 20, 1937, in Chicago, and passed away in the arms of his beloved wife, Donna, on Jan. 4, 2022.

Paul spent his early life in Chicago until he was eleven when the family moved to Michigan. He spent three years serving in the U.S. Army where he met Donna Marie Lenz...

Jan 2, 2022

Carrol Lee Stokes, 78, of St. Joseph passed away on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Carrol was born on Sept. 2, 1943, in Malvern, Ark., the son of Ed and Evelyn (Blasengame) Stokes, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing are a sister, Donna Jones;...

Dec 26, 2021

John Robert Hall, formerly of Coloma, passed away unexpectedly, in Watervliet, on Dec. 26, 2021, at the age of 75.

John was born April 19, 1946, in Pahokee, Fla., the son of Ralph and Sarah (Armour) Hall, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing were his late wife, Tina Mae Hall in...

Dec 25, 2021

Gatha Glennette Bennett, 75, of Hartford passed away suddenly Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, at home.

Gatha was born Oct. 11, 1946, in Barstow, Calif., the daughter of Robert and Donnie (Brannen) Johnson, both of whom precede her in passing. Also preceding her in passing are a son, Shannon Scott Bennett; a grandson, Gunnar Bennett; a sister, Shirley...

Dec 18, 2021

Brenda Shafer of Hartford was born June 18, 1955, in Monette, Ark. She was the daughter of L.C. and Dorothy (Butler) Pruitt. Brenda passed away at the age of 66, on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

As per Brenda’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be at 1...

Dec 15, 2021

Ralph “Butch” Edward Bailey Sr., 76, of Hartford was born on Sept. 28, 1945, at his home in Hartford, the son of Roy A. Bailey and Lorraine (Hough) Bailey.

Butch, as he was known, passed away on Dec. 15, 2021, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, from complications of cancer.

On Oct. 21,...

Dec 15, 2021

The family of Robert M. Davis shares the sad news of his peaceful passing on Wednesday, Dec. 15th. Rob was born to Marion and Roy (Bud) Davis on Oct. 29th, 1954, and was raised in Hartford and Ann Arbor, Mich., with his sisters, Deborah, Rebecca and Laurel. He graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in 1973, and attended...

Dec 9, 2021

James Torrey Dillenbeck was born Oct. 15, 1944, in Lawrence, the son of Donald and Laura (Strand) Dillenbeck. He passed away suddenly at the age of 77, on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at his home.

James was an auto body painter by trade and worked for numerous companies. He opened his own body shop, and loved to...

Dec 3, 2021

Daniel Ryan Jacobs, 44, of Kalamazoo, Mich., passed away suddenly on Dec. 3, 2021, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Daniel Jacobs had a kind heart, especially for the world’s most vulnerable people. He perceived the world in a unique way, giving him a sense of humor, which made many laugh. He appreciated spending time with family...

Nov 29, 2021

Leonard Richardson Jr., of Paw Paw was born on Oct. 11, 1931, in Kalamazoo, Mich., the son of Leonard and Zelma Richardson.

Bud, as he was known by everyone, passed away Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, Mich., at the age of 90.

Bud graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, and went...

Nov 28, 2021

Billy Dale Everett, 85, of Hartford passed away on Nov. 28, 2021 in Indianapolis.

Billy was born in Arkansas to Widney and Opal Everett on Sept. 9, 1936. He went to school in Hartford. He married Ruth Everett on April 18, 1959. He worked as a toll technician for AT&T Phone Company for over 30 years. Billy...

Nov 16, 2021

Adrian Robles, 46, of Lawrence Township passed away Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Adrian was born July 3, 1975, in Pabellon de Arteaga Aguascalientes, Mexico, the son of Antonio and Oralia (Rodriguez) Robles. He was employed for his entire working life at GLCC of Paw Paw. He loved sports, especially basketball, football...

Nov 12, 2021

Rojelio Uvalle, 25, of Keeler Township passed away suddenly Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at home.

Rojelio was born Oct. 4, 1996, in Kalamazoo, the son of Carlos Uvalle Sr. and Guadalupe Montalvo.

Rojelio is survived by his parents, Carlos Sr. and Guadalupe of Hartford; three sisters: Veronica Uvalle, Monica Uvalle and Annette Montalvo; two brothers:...